Happy Thanksgiving!

To those who celebrate this holiday, have a wonderful Thanksgiving! Eat, drink, and be grateful! For those who live elsewhere, it’s still a good time to count your blessings. Have a wonderful day!

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Wednesday Author Interview – Joanne Clancy

The Detective’s Wife by Joanne Clancy

Today, it’s my pleasure to welcome mystery writer, Joanne Clancy, to Bookin’ It. Joanne, it’s so nice to have you here this morning. Tell us a bit about how you became a writer. When did you decide that’s what you wanted to be, and what steps did you take to prepare for a writing career?

JC: I’ve always been passionate about reading–my mother started reading to me when I was just a few weeks old– and for me, reading and writing have always gone together. I started writing stories for my younger sisters and brother when I was about seven years old, so I’ve always been interested in writing. However, I never really saw writing as a viable career option; it was always a hobby, until I decided to take the plunge and become a full-time writer in April, 2010. I’d been made redundant from my job, and it was the height of the recession in Ireland, so jobs were hard to find. I applied for hundreds of jobs, without success, which was when I decided to dedicate myself to a career in writing.

Check out My Fun Interview on PJ Fiala’s Blog

The Write Stuff

My thanks to Patty for having me as a guest author today. Hope some of you will enjoy the interview. It was great fun!

Marcia Meara Tells Us About Her Perfect Hero

NOTE: It isn’t who you think! 🙂

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And INSTEAD of Thor’s Day Joke #2…

…we have..tada!…THOR, himself!
And may I add, I never doubted this for a MINUTE!
Take THAT, Ned Hickson! 😀

Thor’s Day Joke #1

We See What You’ve Done There!

Wednesday Author Interview: Karen Yankosky

Today, it is my pleasure to introduce you to humor writer, Karen Yankosky. Welcome to Bookin’ It, Karen.  Let’s start by finding out a bit about how you became a writer. When did you decide that’s what you wanted to be, and what steps did you take to prepare for a writing career? 

KY: The only two things I ever really did to become a writer were read voraciously and write constantly. I’ve been doing both for my whole life. Sometimes my writing took the form of long, story-filled letters and emails to friends, and I still write with that same voice. I’m not fortunate enough to call writing a career –yet—but it is a passion. I didn’t attempt anything formal with my writing until 2012, when my divorce led me to go bald. No wait, that’s not quite what happened. I only tore out some of my hair. And I also enrolled in a writing class called “Getting Started,” which, thankfully, lived up to its name and led to the creation of my humor blog at Splat-ospheric .  That, in turn, led me to write Good Luck With That Thing You’re Doing.  

Clarification

Hi, everyone. Sorry if I was unclear yesterday. My problem was not whether my followers are being alerted when I post something new. It’s that *I* wasn’t being alerted when you respond to my posts. I’m supposed to get an email saying “Betty Jo just commented on your post.” (Although I really haven’t heard from anyone named Betty Jo that I’m aware of. 🙂 )

At any rate, I did get alerts yesterday for every response to my post, so I guess my tweaks have finally started to work. Thank you to all who took the time to comment and help me test things out. I appreciate it!

As you were, folks. Enjoy your day!

Testing – Please Help!

Since setting up my latest blog, The Write Stuff, I’ve stopped receiving email notices when new comments appear on my blogs. I believe my settings are all correct, but I did tweak one thing on this blog. Could a few of you please leave a brief comment here, so I can see if it is working properly again? Just a hello will do. Thanks so much!

TGI…Freya’s Day!

Another week gone by, another list of things done, things undone, things I wish I hadn’t done, and things that will likely never get done. Pretty typical for a Freya’s Day, all in all. I have a new review coming up later today, if things go well with my editing this morning, and I get a bit more work on my 4th novel, the sequel to Swamp Ghosts.

Hunter is turning out to be far more romantic than anything I’ve done before, which may or may not translate to far more sexy, depending on your personal definitions of that. But whatever you call it, it’s fun to write so many love scenes right from the start of the book. (Breaking the rules and doing this one backwards by letting the couple find each other right off the bat, and then throwing trouble at them. I think I like how it’s working, so far.)

WordPress is causing me grief again, first by not sending me any notices of new comments, so I have to scroll around hunting for them, in order to respond appropriately. And second, by changing the fonts in my posts, and not giving me any way…that I can find…to reset them. Not so happy about that, but in the grand scheme of things, a minor annoyance, to be sure.

And just because you’ve been so good things morning (you have been good this morning, haven’t you?) here’s something to make you smile. No punchline. Just so dang adorable, I defy anyone to look at it and NOT go “Awwwww,” even if only using your tiny, innermost voice, so you won’t spoil your curmudgeonly reputation. So…TADA…I present the first of my new Terminally Cute series. Behold!

Thor’s Day Joke #2

Please! Not Before I’ve Had My Coffee!

Thor’s Day Joke #1

Somebody’s Been Watching Too Many Cartoons!

Ghost in the Canteen by Jen Rasmussen

My Review: 5 of 5 Stars

This is a difficult review to write. How can I tell you how terrific Ghost in the Canteen is, without giving away anything of importance? Should be easy, but the trouble is, everything in this story is of importance. Nothing is a throw-away, and it all ties together so very nicely, I’m left floundering for something to say. (Alert the media! She has nothing to say!)

Okay, I do have a few things to say. First, Jen Rasmussen’s writing is first-rate. The story pulled me in immediately, and the characters were interesting and engaging, especially the snarky heroine, ghost hunter Lydia Trinket. Lydia’s been doing her job of sending recalcitrant spirits through to the Other Side for years. Or so she thinks. Turns out, Lydia has been somewhat misled about what she’s actually doing, and therein lies a tale. A really scary tale.

The canteen referred to in the title is a switchel ring–a clay container designed to slide over one’s arm to hold switchel, a very unusual drink you’ll learn more about when you read this book. Which I hope will be soon, because…did I mention?…it’s good. Lydia’s switchel ring is a portal through which ghosts can move on to their next stop. (Heaven or hell, presumably.) Or is it? Sometimes things are not what they seem. “A kiss is still a kiss, a sigh is just a sigh”…but a switchel ring might be more than a container for a cooling drink. And a portal…well, I think you should find out about that for yourself. Personally, I’ll never look at even a Thermos bottle the same way again. 😯

Along Lydia’s journey, you’ll meet all sorts of interesting and creepy…and downright terrifying…characters. I loved every single word of this book, and I suspect most of you will, as well. Go get it. But maybe leave all the lights on while you’re reading. And definitely be sure you’re not alone in the house.

I can’t wait for the next Lydia Trinket book, Peak of the Devil. (You gotta love the title.) And what are you waiting for? Click on the Buy Link below, and start reading Ghost in the Canteen today. You’ll be glad you did.

Ghost in the Canteen

Wednesday Author Interview: Paty Jager

Today, Bookin’ It would like to welcome versatile writer Paty Jager. Paty, it’s so nice to have you here with us. Let’s get started with you telling us a bit about about how you became a writer. When did you decide that’s what you wanted to be, and what steps did you take to prepare for a writing career? 

What Are You Reading?

 

It’s not Friday…I missed that, sadly…but I figure it’s never too late to let you know what I’m reading, especially when it’s something really, really good. So, here it is. This week, I’m reading Jen Rasmussen’s Ghost in the Canteen, and it’s brilliant! Jen’s writing is strong, sharp, funny, and engaging. And great goobley-oobley! This story is scary! Horror fans will love it, for sure, and anyone who likes ghost stories, tales of the supernatural, and unique world building will, as well. Plus, you might learn a thing or two you didn’t know before. Like…what is a switchel ring? In fact, what is switchel? Do you know? I didn’t. But now I do!

Ghost in the Canteen is so good, I’m going to recommend you go right ahead and buy your copy today, even before my full review comes out next week. I don’t think you’ll be sorry.

Now, it’s your turn. What are YOU reading this week? Inquiring minds wanna know!

Weekend Recap

Weekend Recap featuring some of last week’s most helpful posts on The Write Stuff. You writers out there might want to check them out, and think about following us at TWS: Writers Helping Writers

The Write Stuff

Some great posts this week you really shouldn’t miss. Here’s a recap of a few that were very helpful to me.

What Are Your Writing Rewards by Aimee Easterling
BookBub Explained – Reblogged from Nancy’s Notes from Florida, by Nancy Cohen
Keeping Your Story Focused is a Lot Like Taking an Eye Exam by Ned Hickson
Things I Learned About Keywords by Jen Rasmussen
What I Learned From Erotica Writers by Aimee Easterling

There were also some posts about new releases, including:

My New Release, A Sweet Billionaire Romance by Aimee Easterling
Release Day for Amy’s Choice by Marcia Strykowski

If you missed any of these posts, this is your chance to check them out now. PLEASE remember to share them with your peeps, via Facebook, Twitter, or reblogging. They’ll be ever so grateful, and will do the same for you.

Have a great weekend, everyone!

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Thor’s Day Joke #2

WAIT! You Missed A Couple in the Bottom Corner

Thor’s Day Joke #1

I Will Get You For This, If It Takes Every Single One of My Nine Lives

A Boy Named Rabbit Cover Reveal!

So Excited to Share This!!

The Write Stuff

Woohoo! I’m so excited to share the cover of my next book in the Wake-Robin Ridge series, A Boy Named Rabbit. As always, my cover GODDESS, Nicki Forde, has done exactly what I wanted with this one. All I had to do was say “waterfall” and “silhouette,” and she nailed it.

For those who aren’t familiar with Book 1 in this series, Wake-Robin Ridge, here’s a shot of that one, so you can see our intent with the series is to keep the same basic layout, and just change the middle image to something appropriate for each book. And thus, a bit of branding occurs. Hopefully. So what do you think? Do you like the new cover? Are we on the right track when you see the old one? (Oh, and for those who aren’t familiar with North Carolina wildflowers, a wake-robin is the red trillium on the…

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Writers Wanted!

Are you a writer? Would you like a few more people to find out about you and your books…for FREE? I’d love to interview you for my Wednesday Author Interview series. Just email me at mmeara@cfl.rr.com, and I’ll give you the full details. It’s easy and fun, and you might pick up a few more readers, too. And I have an opening tomorrow! Act fast and it could be YOURS.

Release Day for Amy’s Choice!

Congratulations to Marcia Strykowski, and please help spread the word via Twitter, Facebook, or reblogging. You can make a difference! Thanks.

The Write Stuff

Hi fellow readers and writers! I’m so happy to be able to pop on here during my book’s birthday celebration. Amy’s Choice, a coming-of-age tween novel, is the sequel to Call Me Amy, which was selected for Bankstreet College of Education’s list of Best Children’s Books for 2014.

Amy finds more than an abandoned seal pup in her tiny fishing village on the coast of Maine during 1973. Both of these books are published by Luminis Books and today marks the official release of Amy’s Choice. I’ll be signing hot-off-the-press copies at the Salem, NH Barnes & Noble (2-4) and I’m also giving away prizes today on my own blog: www.marciastrykowski.com.

Meanwhile, I’d love to share this interview Marcia Meara posted on her popular Bookin’ It blog a while back. Here are the first questions followed by a link to the original post:

Wednesday Author Interview: Meet Marcia Strykowski

Bookin’ It is…

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